Fracture clamp



June 21, 1955 R. s. RICKARD i 2,711,167

FRACTURE CLAMP Filed'June 11, 1952 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illllllllllllllll 10 20 so 40Kg lKg=2.2|b

ATTORNEYS INVL-N TOR. RoberfikSiRicka/zd 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. s. RICKARD FRACTURE CLAMP June 21, 1955 Filed June 11, 1952 v ATTORNEYS United States PatentO 2,711,167 FRACTURE CLAMP Robert S. Rickard, Alliance, Ohio Application June 11, 1952, Serial No. 292,890. Claims. (Cl. 128-83) The invention relates to means for holding a bone fracture in reduced position, and more particularly to an improved clamp having resilient means for applying the desired amount of pressure to the fracture; i

It is an object of the invention to provide a clamp having a spring loaded pressure plate adapted to bein corporated in a movable portion of the cast covering" the fracture. l

Another object is to provide a cylinder having a spring loaded piston therein for adjusting the pressure plate. .1

A further object is to provide a supporting bracket for said cylinder adapted to be permanently incorporated in the cast covering the fracture.

A still further object is to provide such 'adevice in I which the supporting bracket is inthe form of a C-clamp the cylinder and spring loaded piston, showing a portion of the support bracket mounted; v a p Fig. 3 a detached side elevation of thepistom; a? Fig. 4 a longitudinal, sectional view of the pressure plate;

upon which the cylinder;-is

Fig. 5 a transverse section through the shankof ;thev pressure plate, showing thespring clip for detachably connecting the pressure plate tothe adjusting screw of p the piston, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4; j Fig. 6 a perspective view of ajmodified form ofgsupport bracket with the cylinder attached thereto;

Fig. 7 a side elevation of an ankle with cast-thereon,

showing the improved fracture clampapplied thereto; Fig. 8 a rear elevation of. the ankle, showing the cast and fracture clamp in section;

Fig. 9 a transverse section taken as on the line 99, Fi 8; 1

iig. 10 a transverse section through a knee joint with cast thereon, showing the modified 'form of fracture clamp applied thereto; and, Fig. 11 a diagram of a chart showing 'springpressure obtained by adjustment of the piston.

Referring now to they embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the improved-fracture clamp to which the improvements pertain "comprises a cylinder 7 2,711,167 Patented June 21, 1955 "ice 7 t 2 the fiat support bracket 15, with angular extensions 16, shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

Slidably located within the cylinder 11 is a piston 17, having a radial stud 18 engaged in the longitudinal slot 19 in the cylinder bore, to prevent relative rotation of the piston within the cylinder.

The cylinder bore is internally threaded as shown at 20, to receivethe externally threaded pressure adjusting disc 21. This disc may be provided with diametrically opposed sockets or apertures 22, to receive a conventional form of Wrench for rotating the disc within the threadedcylinder bore, and has the central opening 23 to receive the hollow shank o'r piston rod 24, of the piston 17. e

The outer side of the piston is shouldered at 25, to receive the coil spring 26, which is located within" the cylinder bore and interposed between the piston and the pressure adjusting disc 21.

A spiral groove or marking 2.7, of the same pitchas the screw threads 20, is formed upon the exterior of the tubular piston rod 24.-- An arrow 28 is radially located upon the outer surface of the pressure regulating disc 21 for cooperation with the graduations 29 upon .the outer-end of the cylinder 11. p

The piston 175is internally threaded as shown at 30, to receive the space adjustment screw, 31, which has a ball 32 formed at its inner end, and may have a hexagonal i socket 33 in its outer end, ,to receive an Allenshead screw driver for adjusting the screw relative to the piston. In cases where considerable adjustment may be required,

the screw 31 maybe of greater length, as indicated in Fig. 6. p I

a The pressure plate may befin the form of a disc 34, which. may "be'concaved on its inner side, as shown at 35, and has the central boss 36 at its other side, havinga socket 37' therein to receive-the ball ,32 upon the. space adjustment screw 31.

A peripheral groove 38 is formed in the spring 40, for engaging behind the head 32 of the space adjustment screw and detachablyholding the pressure In the application of theirnproved fracture clamp for such use, theprocedure is to first set the, fractured joint, and then wrap the joint with cotton asiindicated at 41.

A plaster cast or bandage 42 is then molded on the'outer I side of the joint, as a pressure-surface at thedesired region, the pressure plate 34 being embedded or molded into said cast.- 1

I Then 'a second Wrapping 'of cotton, shownjat. 43, is wrapped around the joint andover the cast 42, containing the pressure plate 34, so that this cast, with the pressure'plate therein, may be floating betweenthe cotton wrappin'gs 41 and 43.

A light plastercast 44 is'then applied entirelyiamund the -joint,'over the cotton'wrapping 43, leaving a small opening 45over the socket in the pressure plate 34. The

I, joint may then be X-rayed to see that it is properly set.

11, the wall thickness of which maybe increased at its inner end, as indicated at 12, to receive attaching screws 13, for connecting the cylinder to the C-shape support bracket 14 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, through the bayonet type or key hole slots 13a shown in Fig. 2, or to It should then be determined that the pressurecas't 42, withthej pressure-plate therein, floats freely between the cottonwrappingsfl and 43, by pressing lightly'with-"the fingers" uponthe pre'ssure.plate 34, through the small opening 45 in the light plaster cast 44, after which the boss36 and transverse slots 39 extend from said groove into opposite sides of the'socket 37, for receiving a'U-shape or hairpin 1 With the C-shape bracket 14 held in proper position, a plaster cast or bandage 46 is then placed around the joint, and around the bracket 14 and the cast is allowed to dry.

Then set the pressure adjusting disc 21 at 0, and back off the space adjustment screw 31. Then tighten .the space adjustment screw until the pistonl'l starts to actuate, after which back otf the space adjustment screw one-half turn to assure that-no continual pressure is upon the skin surrounding the fracture.

Then set the pressure adjusting disc 21 to the desired starting spring pressure, which starting pressure may be obtained from the chart shown in Fig. 11.

For treatment of the fracture, first determine the maximum pressure to be applied to the joint, then set the spring pressure adjusting disc 21 to a starting spring pressure slightly under the maximum pressure and tighten the space adjustment screw until the piston starts to actuate. 1

The spiral scale 27 on the pistonshank is observed to assure that the maximum pressure is not exceeded as more pressure is applied by the space adjustment screw. The joint is now reset but under continual pressure.

Then back oif the spring pressure adjusting disc 21 until the same is flush with the housing andset at 0, and loosen the space adjustment screw until the piston is fully retracted, after which the screwis loosed another half turn to assure that there is no continual pressure on "the a skin. After this the pressure adjusting disc 21 is set to the desired starting spring pressure which may be obtained from the chart shown in Fig. 11.

In applying the improved fracture, clamp to a'knee joint or the like, where it may not be convenient to use the C-shape bracket 14, 'thefiat bracket 15, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10, may be used.

In the application of this form of the clamp to'the fractured joint, a cotton wrapping-41a is first applied around the joint, after which the plaster pressure mold 420, with the pressure plate 34 embedded therein, is molded around the cotton at the proper point and a second cotton wrapping 43a is placed around the same, as

' in Figs. 8 and 9, after which a plaster cast 47 is placed entirely around the joint with the bracket 15 embedded therein and the procedure is otherwise as above described with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9. J With this form of supporting bracket shown in Figs. 6. and 10, it will be obvious that the bracket maybe located in the plaster cast at any desired angle to apply pressure in the right direction to the joint.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been. A

construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful re-v sults obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious ;to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended,

claims. v

Iclairnz' l. A fracture clamp comprising a suppqflbracket, a cylinder mounted upon said bracket, a piston within said cylinder, a spring in the cylinder contactingthe piston,

the cylinder being internally threaded throughout a subin the cylinder contacting the piston, the cylinder being;

stantial portion of its length, a pressure adjusting disc threaded into the cylinder for adjusting the spring pressure upon the piston, a space adjustment screw in' the piston and a pressure plate connected to the screw.

2 A fracture clamp comprising a support bracket, a cylinder mounted upon said bracket, a piston within said cylinder, 2. spring in the cylinder contacting the piston, the cylinder being internally threaded throughout a substantial portion of its length, a pressure adjusting disc threaded into the cylinder for adjusting the spring pres-'' sure upon the piston, a pressure plate connected to the piston, a dial upon the outer end of the cylinder and an indicator on the pressure adjusting disc cooperating with said dial.

3. A fracture clamp comprising a C-shape support internally threaded throughout a substantial portion of its length, a pressure adjusting disc threaded into the cylinder for adjusting the spring pressure upon the piston,

a pressure plate connected to the piston, a dial upon the outer end of the cylinder and an indicator on the pressureadjusting, disc cooperating with said dial.

. 4. In combination, .a plaster pressure cast surrounding a portion of a joint containing fractured bone parts, a pressure plate embedded in said pressure cast, a cylinder, a spring loaded .pistonin the, cylinder, the cylinder being internally threaded throughout a substantial portion of its length, a pressure adjusting disc threaded. into-the.v cylinder foradjusting the spring pressure upon the piston, J

and a layer of resilient material between thepressure cast and the second plaster, cast. I

5. In combination, a plaster pressure castsurrounding a portion of a joint containingfractured boneparts, a

pressure plate embedded in said pressure cast, acylinden;

aspring loaded piston in the cylinder, the cylinder being I internally threaded throughout a substantial portion of its length mpressure adjusting disc. threaded intothe' cylinderforiadjusti-ng the spring pressure upon the piston,

ball and socket means providing a universal joint detachably connecting the piston to the pressure plate, a

Support bracket attached to thecylinder, a second plaster cast surrounding thejointandthe pressure cast, the support bracket being embedded insaid second plaster cast" surroundingthe joint and the pressure cast, the support bracket being embedded in said second plaster cast, and

a layer. of resilient material betweenthe pressure cast and the second plaster. cast.

J References Cited in the file of this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,577 Loud Dec. 4, 19.06 1,209,350 Steiner Dec. 19,1916 1,880,945 Etting er Oct. 4, 1932 2,238,660 Santora Apr. 15, 1941. 2,295,253

OTHER REFERENCES 1917 Catalog of Zimmer Mfg. Company, Warsaw, A

Indiana. p. 61. (Copyin Division 55;

'Bloomberg' Sept. 8, 1942 

